A singular figure, Gordon reached beyond the normal realms of popular and successful. He lifted NASCAR to its zenith as a transcendent force that saw the once regional and niche sport transition into a mainstream juggernaut.

Gordon would have been a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame lock based on his driving credentials alone. He won four NASCAR Cup Series championships from 1995-2001. His 93 wins in NASCAR's premier series rank third all time, his 477 top-10 finishes rank second and his 325 top-fives rank third. He never missed a race as a full-time driver between 1993 and 2015, becoming NASCAR's ultimate iron man with 797 consecutive starts.

The West Coast kid who moved to the Midwest to pursue his racing dreams became a sensation, taking the stock car world by storm with his combination of raw talent and GQ looks. Joining a series that had been dominated by legendary drivers like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson and Darrell Waltrip, Gordon had a California cool that was an immediate contrast to their Southern grit.

And the mainstream took notice as a new segment of the population added stock car racing to its sports fandom. Gordon became the poster child for NASCAR, with his fresh face and Rainbow Warrior paint scheme.

"He started the youth movement that truly introduced our sport to a lot of young fans at a crucial time and is credited with helping grow the fan base exponentially," said Waltrip, a Hall of Famer and Gordon's partner in the Fox NASCAR broadcast booth.

Added Fox play-by-play analyst Mike Joy: “More than any driver before or since, Jeff came to the Cup Series as a fresh-faced young man who was ready to compete for wins and championships almost right away. Additionally, Jeff attracted notice to and respect for the sport far beyond traditional race fans and media.”

Gordon became one of the faces of Pepsi in its advertising blitz. He became the first driver to host Saturday Night Live (in 2003). He guest-starred as himself in hit TV shows. He appeared alongside movie stars Michael Keaton, Matt Dillon and Lindsay Lohan in the feature film Herbie Fully Loaded. He voiced Jeff Gorvette in the animated hits Cars 2 and Cars 3. He became a fixture on late-night talk shows. And he became a talk-show host himself, co-hosting multiple times alongside star Kelly Ripa on her popular syndicated series Live! with Kelly.

Gordon became a star, no doubt about it, but he was always a racer at heart. He helped build Hendrick Motorsports into a powerhouse team, first with his success on the track then by identifying and nurturing NASCAR's next big star — Jimmie Johnson, another California kid who has since surpassed Gordon on the championship pyramid.

Gordon retains an ownership stake in Hendrick Motorsports and remains one of the most recognizable faces in NASCAR, more than two years since he last strapped into the driver's seat and stepped into competitive retirement.

And while he will join the legends of his sport in the Hall of Fame, his stature in popular culture has never been matched — either by the NASCAR drivers who paved the way or the current crop who aspire to supplant him.

Jeff Gordon retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2015 season. Here, he sits on the pit box of fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (not pictured) during a race at Dover International Speedway in October 2017. Matthew O'Haren, USA TODAY Sports

Gordon, second from right, poses with daughter Ella Sofia, crew chief Alan Gustafson and the rest of his crew after finishing second in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb 17. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports

Gordon won two races in 2012, including the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead on Nov 18. Gordon finished 10th in the Sprint Cup standings, his lowest finish since 2005. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports

Gordon talks to his daughter Ella Sophia before an April 10, 2010 race at Phoenix. Gordon failed to win a race for the third time since his rookie year in 1993 and finished ninth in the standings. Tom Pennington, Getty Images for NASCAR

Gordon celebrates in victory lane with a pair of pistols after winning the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5, 2009. It was Gordon's lone victory of the season. He finished third in the Sprint Cup standings. Tony Gutierrez, AP

Gordon, shown here with a blown tire at the race at Michigan on Aug. 17, 2008, failed to win a Cup race for the first time since his rookie year in 1993. Gordon finished seventh in the standings. Bob Brodbeck, AP

Gordon and girlfriend Ingrid Vandebosch arrive for the premiere of the Disney/Pixar animated film "Cars" at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 26, 2006. The pair would get married in a private ceremony later in the year. Terry Renna, AP

Gordon, left, and a crew member spray each other with champagne in victory lane after Gordon won his fourth career Winston Cup Series championship on Nov. 18, 2001. Gordon won six races and had 18 top-5 finishes. Greg Suvino, AP

Gordon was a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Feb. 18, 1997, two days after becoming the youngest Daytona 500 winner in history at 25 years, 6 months. Gordon's record was broken by Trevor Bayne in 2011. Alan Singer, AP

Gordon celebrates after winning the Hanes 500 at Martinsville on Sept. 22, 1996. He finished the year second in the points standings. Gordon had 34 top-10 finishes and 21 top-fives in 31 races. Steve Helber, AP